Importing Data Without Committing Murder

Apparently it can't be done. Since Monday when I made the fateful decision to replace my dying pc, I have destroyed data, chewed up pencils, fingernails and lips, and even muttered murderous thoughts to the only man who was trying to get my computers to talk to one another. I was insane from lack of sleep, loss of data and trying to remember where I put the shotgun.

I seriously considered walking away from computers to live an Amish lifestyle in Antarctica,

My old computer was...well, OLD. I try very hard not to replace my computers because I can't bear to relive the transfer nightmare. Yes, I could have had service people move my data but I am paranoid about strangers near my super secret plans to control the world.

There was a cable I could buy for $50 bucks that would let me do the job too, but that too seemed a bit pricey for a one time use. We settled on making the old hard drive an external hard drive--and you guessed it--the new computer said I didn't own that property and wouldn't allow me to copy, move or mutilate said data. (This is when I started looking for a shotgun.)

Greg has been trying to convince me to replace my pc for well over a year. Finally, when the old girl looked like she had breathed her last, I agreed reluctantly. This transfer of data was even worse than the last time. More data, more chances to invoke permanent heart failure.

I finally got Microsoft Outlook working. Think what you like about Bill Gates, but I depend on Outlook like druggies need crack. It keeps me organized and I will sacrifice most any other program as long as I can keep the Microsoft Suite of software.

For some reason my old bookmarks did not all make it on the Mayflower. Most of them seem to have transferred, but I am missing quite a few of the newer bookmarks. I'm still working on that.

And don't even ask me about my art software. I've upgraded them many times and new computers aren't mollified into simply accepting the upgrades. Nooooooooooo! You have to find the original software and then re-add the upgrade. Easy if it were just a couple of programs. Not so easy if you have a dozen upgrades and realize that the original discs are probably in a box marked 'archived' --last seen somewhere near Area 51.

The new computer is super fast which was the only selling point. It's got a lot of new-fangled additions that are more annoying than useful. Yet it couldn't support my old printer (which is older than my old computer) because the cords and ports are different. Enter the new printer. Thankfully, it hooked up without a problem.

I have a lot of emails and blogs to catch up on and a lot of news and info to digest and pass along.

Bear with me a little longer and I should be back on track soon.

Today I am grateful I survived the new computer. I got my email and all its subfolders, and I am even online. There are still a lot of kinks to work out, but at least I made it intact.

D'oh! Just as I was typing the last line, my power went out. I'm off to discuss this lapse in service with my electric company. Now where the heck did I leave that shotgun?

Talk to you soon.